John Quiggin on the UK
Murdoch scandal and Murdochracy (2011): “The scandal over hacking and other criminal
behavior has now become an all-out revolt of UK politicians against Murdoch’s
immense political power , which has had successive Prime Ministers dancing
attendance on him, and rushing to confer lucrative favors on his News
Corporation. Those, like Labour leader Ed Miliband, who are relative
cleanskins, are making the running, while PM David Cameron, very close to the
most corrupt elements of News, is scrambling to cover himself. The hacking and
bribery scandals appear (as far as we know) to be confined to the UK, but the greater scandal of Murdoch’s
corruption of the political process and misuse of press power is even worse in Australia. The
Australian and other Murdoch publications filled with lies and politically
slanted reporting aimed at furthering both Murdoch’s political agenda and his
commercial interests. Whereas there is still lively competition in the British
Press, Murdoch has a print monopoly in major cities like Brisbane.” [1]